New Delhi [India], December 29 (ANI): The UK Embassy’s Defence Section on Monday highlighted the India-UK partnership in the defence sector, calling 2025 a landmark year.
According to the UK Embassy’s Defence Section, the year featured historic naval exercises and groundbreaking industrial collaboration. “As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a landmark year for the UK-India defence partnership. From historic naval exercises to groundbreaking industrial collaboration, here’s what we achieved together,” the post read.
The Defence Section highlighted the launch of Defence Partnership – India (DP-I) at Aero India 2025, establishing a dedicated program office within the UK Ministry of Defence to strengthen bilateral defence collaboration. Contracts were signed between Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited for Laser Beam Riding MANPADs, with STARStreak missiles delivered this year. MBDA UK and BDL also installed a first-of-its-kind ASRAAM facility in Hyderabad, creating jobs and capabilities in both nations.
In technology, the two countries signed a Statement of Intent to develop Integrated Full Electric Propulsion systems for India’s next-generation Landing Platform Dock fleet, supporting India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
The year also saw significant milestones in the maritime sector. HMS Prince of Wales and INS Vikrant led their respective carrier strike groups in Exercise Konkan, marking the first time British and Indian carrier groups exercised together in the Western Indian Ocean. Exercise Ajeya Warrior VIII concluded with the British Army and India’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information units conducting complex counterterrorism training, sharing tactics, and strengthening interoperability in a rapidly evolving security environment.
The UK-India 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap, part of the UK-India Vision 2035, has delivered economic growth, strengthened supply chains, and demonstrated the role of defence as an engine for growth. The UK Embassy noted that 2025 showed what is possible when two major democracies work together—creating jobs, enhancing security, and building resilient industries that benefit communities across both nations.
India-UK defence ties were further highlighted during the eighth edition of the biennial Indo-UK Army exercise, Ajeya Warrior, which concluded on November 30 after nearly two weeks of intensive training at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. This year’s exercise focused on conducting peace-enforcement operations in a counterterrorism environment, in line with Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, involving simulated operations in multi-domain urban and semi-urban settings.
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